On 18 December 2024, FH Campus 02 played host to a Teacher Training event as part of the Erasmus+ project Gate2Math.
The event was attended by 22 teachers and staff from a variety of universities, who were introduced to the Gate2Math project and the Smart Library repository of Open Educational Resources. During the training, the participants got introduced to basics of open educational resources (OER), including their definitions, types and formats, quality criteria, and open licenses Creative Commons.
The training program enabled the participants to gain practical insights and tools for creating, adapting and using open educational resources in their professional activities. Teachers learned how to effectively implement OER in the educational process, improving its quality and accessibility, while university staff received new ideas on how to develop open education and enrich teaching materials.
Photos: Yevheniia Andriichenko from Campus 02 introducing the project and OER.
On November 14-15, 2024, the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca in Romania hosted the 4th transnational meeting of the Erasmus+ project Gate2Math. This pivotal event brought together 12 representatives from all partner countries—Austria, Estonia, Portugal, Romania, and Spain—both in-person and virtually. The meeting served as an excellent platform to review the project’s progress, discuss upcoming activities, and strategize future milestones.
Key discussions revolved around evaluating achievements, sharing insights, and ensuring alignment in developing innovative open educational resources for teaching mathematics. A significant focus was placed on integrating these resources into a multilingual online smart library, a cornerstone of the project’s mission.
In addition to the productive working sessions, participants had the unique opportunity to engage with Romanian culture, fostering stronger intercultural connections and mutual understanding. They explored Transylvania’s rich history, stunning landmarks, and vibrant traditions, experiencing firsthand the region’s renowned architecture and heritage. These cultural experiences not only deepened the bonds among project partners but also added a memorable and enriching dimension to the meeting.
The 4th transnational meeting of Gate2Math exemplified the spirit of international collaboration, blending academic innovation with cultural exchange to advance the project’s vision and goals.
TTK University of Applied Sciences together with Campus 02 University of Applied Sciences hosted a Blended Intensive Program (BIP) for students that focused on applying mathematical and statistical methods to address sustainability challenges.
The students came from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Ukraine, totaling 48 participants. They were accompanied by 10 faculty members from different universities across Europe. The event welcomed representatives from Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (Lithuania), Riga Technical University (Latvia), the Open International University of Human Development in Ukraine (Ukraine), National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” (Ukraine), and VSB Technical University of Ostrava (Czech Republic). Discussions highlighted Gate2Math’s role in supporting innovative, quality educational materials and encouraging partners to contribute OERs that align with sustainability-focused learning goals.
This program equipped students with skills to apply mathematical techniques, select problem-solving methods, and interpret results to support informed decision-making. Participants gained hands-on experience with specialized software and accessed open educational resources through a Smart Library of interactive materials, enhancing their ability to tackle real-world issues with data-driven, sustainable solutions.
All Mathematics and Statistics Teachers and other interested are welcomed to join the online workshop on 16th of October, 14:00 – 16:00 Vienna time. The workshop aims to:
– introduce the Gate2Math project – give the possibility to participate on OER creation (creation of interactive learning object in H5P format with open license) – officially open the new Gate2Math Smart Library for public use.
Representatives from Gate2Math partner universities recently participated in the ICL conference, where they held a dedicated session titled “OER4STEM.” The session featured four presentations, focusing on the creation and assessment of Open Educational Resources (OER) in the field of educational technology. It was chaired by Selver Softic from CAMPUS 02 University of Applied Sciences and Vlad Bocanet from the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca.
The presentations provided an overview of the progress made so far and discussed next steps in the development of OER. Participants were also invited to join future OER creation events, including BIP and ErasmusDays. Articles related to all presentations can be found in the ICL conference proceedings.
The session included the following presentations:
Evaluation of Smart Library for Open Educational Resources (OER): study case “Gate2Math Project”
Yevheniia Andriichenko, Selver Softic, Eva Schirgi, Ioan Turcin FH CAMPUS 02, Austria
This presentation focused on the evaluation of Smart Libraries for OER, with 26 academic staff from European universities participating in a Blended Intensive Program (BIP) to assess the usability and functionality of the Gate2Math Smart Library.
Assessing the Quality of Open Educational Resources in Mathematics
Elena Safiulina1, Carles Serrat2, Oksana Labanova1, Yevheniia Andriichenko3, Anne Uukkivi1 1TTK University of Applied Sciences, Tallinn, Estonia; 2Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – Barcelona TECH, Barcelona, Spain; 3CAMPUS02 University of Applied Sciences, Graz, Austria
The study validated a comprehensive rubric for evaluating OER quality in mathematics. The assessment model, developed by the Erasmus+ project Gate2Math, underwent rigorous testing to support the systematic evaluation of OERs.
The Art of Quality Assessment for Open Educational Resources (OER)
Ana Paula Lopes1, Filomena Soares1, Selver Softic2, Yevheniia Andriichenko2 1Polytechnic of Porto, ISCAP, CEOS.PP, Portugal; 2CAMPUS 02 Universityof Applied Sciences, Austria
This research explored existing frameworks for OER quality assessment, highlighting limitations and proposing improvements to enhance the effectiveness and accessibility of OERs in STEM fields.
Usability Platform Test: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Educational Technology Applications
Slavko Rakic2, Selver Softic1, Yevheniia Andriichenko1, Ioan Turcin1, Branko Markoski2, Janika Leoste3 1CAMPUS02 University of Applied Sciences, Austria; 2University of Novi Sad, Serbia; 3School of Educational Sciences, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia
Focused on evaluating EdTech applications through usability testing, this study presented findings from a usability test conducted with students, offering insights to help EdTech companies improve their applications and reach new markets.
Selver Softic, FH CAMPUS 02, AustriaYevheniia AndriichenkoFH CAMPUS 02, Austria
The representatives of TTK UAS participated in the HEAd` Conference, an event focused on innovations in higher education.
During the conference, a poster titled Mapping OER Movements in the Field of Mathematics was presented. This presentation outlined key activities within Gate2Math project aimed at promoting the adoption and development of Open Educational Resources (OER) in mathematics. The discussion emphasized the ongoing efforts to improve access to high-quality educational resources within STEM disciplines, fostering greater inclusivity and collaboration across the academic community.
In addition to showcasing the project, the representatives actively engaged with conference participants, inviting them to join Blended Intensive Program (BIP) for students, which focuses on problem-solving in mathematics. More information about the BIP can be found here: Solving Problems Mathematically.
Photo: Oksana Labanova (left) and Anne Uukkivi from TTK University of Applied Sciences.
TTK University of Applied Sciences, in collaboration with Tallinn University, hosted a significant educational event on May 30, 2024, entitled “Creating Open Educational Resources in Mathematics.” This workshop aimed to enrich the knowledge base of mathematics and statistics educators by introducing them to the innovative Gate2Math Smart Library platform and the broader scope of Open Educational Resources (OER).
Educators from various academic levels, including universities, secondary schools, and vocational institutions, participated in this one-day workshop. The sessions were designed to provide comprehensive training on the utilization and benefits of OER in teaching mathematics, which is increasingly recognized as a vital resource in the educational sector.
The workshop included detailed sessions on OER definitions, the exploration of various OER platforms, and practical activities focused on creating educational materials. Participants actively engaged in collaborative tasks, which not only allowed them to apply their new skills but also to contribute directly to the Gate2Math Smart Library. The platform, praised for its functionality and user-friendliness, served as a real-time repository for the educational objects created during the workshop.
Looking forward, the partners plan to maintain ongoing collaboration with the workshop participants. The objective is to continue developing high-quality OERs and to integrate these resources into the Gate2Math Smart Library, enriching the platform and making advanced educational tools widely accessible.
This initiative marks a significant step forward in enhancing educational resources and supports the ongoing global shift towards more open and accessible educational practices.
On June 5th, 2024, a teachers’ training workshop was held at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, organized by TUCN representatives in the Erasmus+ Gate2Math project: Vlad Bocăneț and Florina Șerdean.
This interactive workshop focused on developing open educational resources (OER) by leveraging generative AI models and the versatile, open-source tool H5P. The session was designed to be both engaging and practical, providing hands-on opportunities for participants to explore AI-driven techniques for resource creation. Attendees were actively involved in using H5P to build digital learning materials tailored to mathematics education within an engineering framework.
During the workshop, participants collaborated closely, exchanging ideas and insights as they navigated the creation process. This productive session not only fostered a dynamic learning environment but also brought the team one step closer to the primary goal of the Gate2Math project: building a high-quality digital library of open educational resources (OER) in seven languages (German, English, Spanish, Catalan, Estonian, Portuguese, and Romanian). This library will serve as a valuable resource for teaching mathematics in engineering contexts across linguistic and cultural boundaries.
From April 8th to April 12th, 2024 the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) titled “Engaging Students with Interactive Materials in Mathematics.” was held in TTK University of Applied Sciences, in Tallinn, Estonia. Educators from different European universities delved into the realms of Open Educational Resource (OER) definition, evaluation, use, and creation. The programme encompassed various topics essential for OER creation, including Design of Learning Materials, Pedagogy of Online Learning, Organizing a Comprehensive Learning Process Based on OERs, criteria for OER quality, and creating OERs for visually impaired and colorblind individuals. Workshops showcased various apps such as H5P, Desmos, Geogebra, Canva, and others, facilitating the creation of mathematics-related learning materials. Participants actively created and uploaded OERs to the project’s smart library, allowing both them and project partners to utilize these resources in the future. Moreover, visits to institutions like TalTech and the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences provided invaluable insights and networking opportunities.
With 20 attendees hailing from 11 higher education institutions, the BIP celebrated the rich tapestry of perspectives and expertise within the educational landscape. Through collaboration and knowledge exchange, participants leveraged their collective strengths to advance the field of mathematical education. With continued collaboration and dedication, the journey towards accessible, engaging learning experiences for all students marches onward.
On April 6, 2024, the representatives of the Gate2Math project Oksana Labanova and Elena Safiulina (TTK UAS), alongside Tatjana Tamberg (TLU), participated in the general assembly of the Estonian Mathematical Society and introduced the essence of the Gate2Math. Creating a new Open Educational Resources (OER) platform for mathematical objects was warmly welcomed by community members, with hopes expressed for building a community around it. There was optimism about the sustainability of this project and a shared commitment to its success.
Left: Elena Safiulina, Oksana Labanova, Tatjana Tamberg
